Structural clip

ABSTRACT

A clip for fastening elements of a casing to be fastened on a support for subsequent incorporation into a pre-fabricated panel comprising a case carrying a bottom pin and a top pin perpendicular thereto and pivoting in ovalized holes in a direction perpendicular to the two pins, two arms pivoted on the bottom pin and having an upper hole through which the upper pin passes, and having a hooked member at the bottom and an offset head at the top, and a lever pivoted on the top pin and carrying a cam cooperating with a fixed support fastened to the case.

United States Patent 1191 Cara [11] 3,834,112 1451 Sept. 10,1974

[ STRUCTURAL CLIP 75 Inventor: Jean-Francois Cara, Les Orchides,

,in esrfraiser .1

[22] Filed: June 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,741

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 22, 1972 France 72.22486 [52] US. Cl. 52/760, 294/116 [51] Int. Cl. Flfib 1/00, F1613 5/00 [58] Field of Search 52/760, 758 C, 758 N, 2947/ 11 89 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,485 12/1933 Cossor 294/89 X 3,198,570 8/1965 Sines 294/116 X 3,284,125 11/1966 Blaske et a]. 294/89 X FGREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,460,730 10/1966 France 52/ Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [5 7] ABSTRACT A clip for fastening elements of a casing to be fastened on a support for subsequent incorporation into a prefabricated panel comprising a case carrying a bottom pin and a top pin perpendicular thereto and pivoting in ovalized holes in a direction perpendicular to the two pins, two arms pivoted on the bottom pin and having an upper hole through which the upper pin passes, and having a hooked member at the bottom and an offset head at the top, and a lever pivoted on the top pin and carrying a cam cooperating with a fixed sup port fastened to the case.

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PAIENIEDSEF m 3,334.1 1-2 sum 10 or 10 STRUCTURAL CLIP In French Pat. No. 1,460,730, description is made of a means to incorporate fittings composed of light sections, for example, of stainless steel, aluminum, or plastics material, in pre-fabricated panels of any kind, for example concrete or foamed plastics held between two metal sheets. During the casting of the material of which the panel is formed, the casings of these fittings are joined to a section carrier frame of high rigidity, which may in turn be supported by a central core. The assembly, comprising the section carrier frame and the cores, constitutes the support. The latter can easily be dismantled after the solidification of the cast material, leaving the casings in place. Elastic seals are incorporated in the section carrier frame in order to isolate the treated external and visible surfaces from the cast material, and to protect them against soiling or scratching. After the support has been dismantled, the previously glazed frames can be placed in position without any adjustment operation.

The casing and the support frame are joined by screwing a bolt into a nut embedded in the cast material.

This method of joinder has the disadvantage of re- I quiring bolts to be buried in the panel in accurately determined positions and corresponding passages must be provided in the casing. Furthermore, the need for symmetrical screwing of all the bolts makes the operation of positioning lengthy and delicate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clip enabling the elements of a casing, which is to be incorporated in a pre-fabricated panel, to be fastened on a support, thereby obviating many of the disadvantages described above.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the clip embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the clip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view from the bottom side of the clip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the reversible arm;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the arm shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the lever arm;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lever arm of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing the clip mounted in position of use, looking in the direction of the lower pin;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view similar to that of FIG. 8, with the clip in an advanced stage of assembly;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing the elements in their assembled relation;

FIG. 11 is a view of the elements shown in FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the upper pin;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the elements shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the clip in use to fasten a casing section onto a support; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 13.

t The clip, embodying the features of this invention, comprises a case provided with two bottom holes through which a bottom pin is adapted to pass, and two arms each of which supports a hook in its lower portion and at least one bearing in its mid-portion through which the lower pin passes. The case has a fixed support plane and two upper holes through which an upper pin passes perpendicularly to the lower pin. The lower and upper holes are ovalized in a direction perpendicular to a plane parallel to the two pins. Each of the arms is provided in its upper portion with a hole through which the upper pin passes and which is surmounted by a head. The upper pin also carries a lever provided with a cam that cooperates with the fixed support plane of the case for the purpose of raising and lowering the upper pin, thus effecting the extraction or retraction of the hooks on the arms.

The clip, which can be fixed in position on a support, provided for this purpose, makes it possible to grip an element of an upright or cross member of the casing and then apply it by traction against-the support.

Referring now to the drawings, the clip 1 comprises a case 11, tongs comprising two reversible arms 12 and 13, a cam lever 14, and a return spring 15.

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the case 11 is composed of a tubular element of rectangular section comprising four walls which are identical and parallel to one another in pairs: 111 and 113, on the one hand, and 112 and 114, on the other hand.

The upper portion of the wall ,111 is provided with a T-shaped notch, the longitudinal bore 11 11 of which is situated on the longitudinal axis 1110 of the wall, while a cross bore 1112 at the base is situated in the central region of the wall. On the same axis 1110 an opening 1113 is provided, in the bottom portion of which the opening is ovalized in the direction of the axis. Continuous with the top end of the longitudinal bore 1111 is a cut-out portion 1114 of triangular shape. The wall 113 is identical, and its description can be obtained by replacing the third numeral 1 in the references by the numeral 3 in the description given above of the wall 1 l 1.

The wall 112, having a longitudinal axis 1 120, is provided in its upper portion with a hole 1 121 centered on and ovalized in the direction of the axis. In its central region, the wall 112 is formed with a fastening lug 1 122 which is situated outside the tubular element and in a plane perpendicular to the four walls of the latter. This lug is provided with a hole 1123 constituting one of the holes for fastening the clip on the support. The bottom end of the wall 112 is internally beveled. The wall 114 is identical, and its description can be obtained by replacing the third numeral 2 in the references by the numeral 4 in the description of the wall 112.

A spring blade 115 of rectangular section is engaged in cross bars 1112 and 1132 of the walls 111 and 113, and constitutes a fixed support plane (FIGS. 8 to 12).

The tongs comprise two reversed, identical arms 12 and 13, which are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The arm 12 is a wide member comprising a central web 121 extended at the bottom end by a hook 122 and at the top end by an offset head 123. Two bearings 124 and 125 of substantially the same width, which is very slightly less than one-quarter the width of the web, are provided at the junction between the web 121 and the hook 122. The bearing 125 is situated at the edge of the arm, while the bearing 124 is spaced therefrom by an amount slightly less than the width of the'bearings. In relation to the web, the bearings and the hook are extended in the opposite direction to that of the offset head 123. In addition, near the offset head 123, the web is provided with a hole 126 the axis of which is offset by an angle 1260 of a few degrees (for example, 5)

in relation to a perpendicular, with the offset in the direction of the hook, referring to a movement in the direction of the offsetting of the head. This hole 126 is disposed in relation to the bearings 124-125 in the same way as the hole 1121 is disposed in relation to the hole 1113. The offset head 123 is in addition provided at its top end with two-aligned bores 1231 and 1232, having their axis 1230 parallel to the axis of the bearings 124, 125.

The description of the arm 13 is obtained by replacing the second digit 2 in all the references by the digit 3 in the description of the arms 12.

The two arms 12 and 13 are joined one against the other with the bearings 124 and 125 of the arm 12 occupying the empty spaces provided between the bearings 134 and 135 of the arm 13. In this manner the hooks 122 and 132 are positioned opposite one another while the offset heads 123 and 133 are spaced from one another.

The cam lever 14, illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7, comprises a side plate 141 which increases in width in its 2 bottom part 142. The latter is pierced with a hole 143 and cut out, around the axis of this hole, in the form of a cam 144 the radius of curvature of which decreases from the bottom end of the arm. As an example, the lever has a bottom edge and a side edge which are perpendicular to one another, the center of the hole 143 being situated at a distance of 27 mm from the bottom edge and at a distance of 24 mm from the side edge. The cam extends over an angle of 90, the apex of which is the axis of the hole 143, and it merges into the two aforesaid edges. The radii of curvature are: at 28 mm; at 30 27.2 mm; at 45 26.4mm; at 60 25.6 mm; at 75 24.8 mm. When the cam rolls on a fixed support plane the distance between the latter and the axis of the hole 143 varies from 27 mm, when the lever is vertical, to 24 mm when the lever is in the horizontal position; the hole 143 is thus lowered by 3 mm. Each face of the lever is in addition provided with a ramp 154 and 146, respectively.

The return spring 15 (FIG. 10) comprises a helicoidal winding 151 of a few turns, namely two in the example illustrated, and at its two ends is extended by'two straight parallel portions 152 and 153, respectively. The portion 152 is engaged in the bore 1232 in the head 123 of the arm 12, while the portion 153 is engaged in the bore 1331 in the head 133 of the arm 13.

The clip is mounted in the following manner (FIG. 8). The case 11 is held in the vertical position with the T-shaped notch at the top and the spring blade 115 engaged in the cross bars 1112 and 1132 of the notches. The two reversible arms 12 and 13 are placed face to face with the bearings 124 of the former engaged in the free space left between the bearings 134 and 135 in the latter. The two arms, with the hooks turned downward, are engaged until the four bearings are situated opposite the oval holes 1113 and 1133, whereupon the elements are joined by means of a pin 116. The cam lever 14 is then engaged in the horizontal position so as to place the hole 143 opposite the upper oval holes 1121 spring 15 holes the hooks 122 and 132 of the arms 12 and 13 in the closed position, corresponding to the minimum distance between them. The hooks are moved to the open position, corresponding to the maximum distance between them, by hand-gripping the offset heads 123 and 133 of the arms 12 and 13 and bringing them as close as possible toward one another. When the cam lever 14 is in the horizontal position, the pin 1 16 is in the low position in the ovalized holes 1 113 and 1133, so that the hooks are in the outer or spread position. When the cam lever 14 is in the vertical position the pin 116 is in the upper position in the ovalized holes, so that the hooks are in the retracted position. Because of the cam 144, the force applied to the hooks during their retraction is very considerable. When the lever 14 is in the vertical position the ramps 144 and 145 are engaged between the offset heads 123 and 133 of the arms 12 and 13, thus holding the hooks 122 and 132 in the closed position.

In the clips which have been constructed, as an example of the invention, the case, the reversible arms, and the cam lever are made of an aluminum alloy contain ing from 9 to l 1 percent silicon, and from 0.15 to 0.9 percent magnesium, by chill-casting and heattreatment comprising quenching followed by hardening. The spring blade 115 is of cadmium-plated blued steel, the return spring 15 of cadmium-plated steel, and the pins 116 and 117 are of stainless steel. However, the invention is not limited to the metals described, since other suitable metals can be used.

Maintenance is reduced to cleaning by a jet or a brush, no lubrication being necessary.

This clip is designed with a view toward permitting the fastening, on a support, of the elements of a casing which is to be incorporated in a pre-fabricated panel, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

The support is composed of a frame formed by join ing together sections 21 having the general form of a U crossed by a flat cross member 211. The sidewalls 212 and 213 of the'U are flat, while the web 214 has at least two recesses intended to receive seals 2141 and 2142 respectively, and a central portion 2143 for centering of the section 31, of the casing which is to be fixed against the section 21 of the support. 7

The clip is mounted on the support in fixed positions, selected once and for all.

In each position, there is provided, in the cross member 211, an opening 2112 adapted to receive the case 11 of the clip, and in a position corresponding to this opening, the central centering portion 2143 is interrupted in order to permit the passage of the clip. Holes 2112 and 2113, corresponding to the holes 1123 and 1143 in the fastening lugs of the clip, are pierced in the cross member.

The case 11 is introduced into the opening 2111 and is fixed by two bolts 1124 and 1144, with an intervening spacer 2114, if necessary. The hooks 122 and 132 of the arm 121 and 131 grip a section element 31 either directly or with the aid of an intermediate part 311. The clip is engaged while the cam lever 14 is lowered with the hooks in the outer position, and the hooks are engaged under the head 3111 of the part 311. Under the action of the return spring 15, the hooks resume the closed position aftersliding over the head 3111. The cam lever 14 must then be raised in order to bring the hooks into the inner position, thus permitting powerful gripping of the section 31 against the section 21 of the support.

Obviously, all the clips of the support are placed in position while the cam lever is lowered. It is only after installation of all the sections, such as 31, of the casing, that the cam levers are lifted, this being done in an orderly fashion to insure good distribution of the clamping forces. All that is now required is to place the assembly, comprising the support and the casing, in position in a mould and to cast a material capable of solidifying, such as concrete or plastic material.

After the solidification, the cam levers are lowered and the support is freed by manually compressing the spring of each clip.

The intermediate part 311 may be a part of the casing, and may for example constitute a running track for windows or the like. When the casing has a T-shaped part, the head of the latter may be directly gripped by the clip.

The invention is applicable to the fastening to a support of a casing which is to be incorporated in a prefabricated panel.

I claim:

I. A clip which enables the elements of a casing, which is to be incorporated in a pre-fabricated panel, to be fastened to a support, comprising a case having two bottom openings, a bottom pin extending therethrough, two arms each of which has a hook in the lower portion, and at least one apertured bearing in a central portion of said arms for passage of said bottom pin therethrough, said clip being characterized in that the case has a fixed support plane and two upper openings, a top pin extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the bottom pin, the bottom openings and top openings being ovalized in a direction perpendicular to a plane parallel to the two pins, each of said arms having an opening in its upper portion for passage of the top pin therethrough and a head surmounting the arms, a lever carried by the top pin having a cam cooperating with the fixed support plane of the case for the purpose of raising and lowering the top pin, and cooperating means on said case and said arms whereby the hooks of the arms are movable in the direction toward and away from each other as said top pin and said arms connected thereto are raised and lowered.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the case has walls with openings, in which each of the walls has a T- shaped notch in its upper region and a longitudinal bar situated in the longitudinal axis of the wall, and a cross bar situated in the central region of the wall above the opening.

3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixed support plane of the case comprises a spring blade.

4. A clip as claimed in claim 3 in which the spring blade is engaged in the cross bars of the notches in the case.

5. A clip as claimed in claim 1 which includes a return spring located between the heads and the levers,

in which the spring constantly urges the hooks in the the arms. 

1. A clip which enables the elements of a casing, which is to be incorporated in a pre-fabricated panel, to be fastened to a support, comprising a case having two bottom openings, a bottom pin extending therethrough, two arms each of which has a hook in the lower portion, and at least one apertured bearing in a central portion of said arms for passage of said bottom pin therethrough, said clip being characterized in that the case has a fixed support plane and two upper openings, a top pin extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the bottom pin, the bottom openings and top openings being ovalized in a direction perpendicular to a plane parallel to the two pins, each of said arms having an opening in its upper portion for passage of the top pin therethrough and a head surmounting the arms, a lever carried by the top pin having a cam cooperating with the fixed support plane of the case for the purpose of raising and lowering the top pin, and cooperating means on said case and said arms whereby the hooks of the arms are movable in the direction toward and away from each other as said top pin and said arms connected thereto are raised and lowered.
 2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the case has walls with openings, in which each of the walls has a T-shaped notch in its upper region and a longitudinal bar situated in the longitudinal axis of the wall, and a cross bar situated in the central region of the wall above the opening.
 3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixed support plane of the case comprises a spring blade.
 4. A clip as claimed in claim 3 in which the spring blade is engaged in the cross bars of the notches in the case.
 5. A clip as claimed in claim 1 which includes a return spring located between the heads and the levers, in which the spring constantly urges the hooks in the direction toward one another.
 6. A clip as claimed in claim 1 which includes two ramps carried by the cam lever above the opening and adapted to be engaged between the offset heads and the arms. 